Mmmmmm: French Press Coffee

One of my favorite things is French Press coffee which I discovered while in Bath, England, last summer. My favorite right now is Kona beans ground fresh.

Easter, Pink Hats and Pink Sat.

My daughter sporting a pink hat on Easter!

Our wonderful husbands don the traditional Pink Hats to hide the eggs!

My oldest daughter made a fabulous cheesecake! Everyone was raving about it!

Relaxing around the tables after a wonderful Easter dinner.

Even the older kids got into the act - it was fun for everyone - from 7 to 70!

Be sure to link up with Beverly over at How Sweet the Sound and share some pink fun! 

Medieval Faire & Feast

These two are from Jess's project and photoshoot of some of the girls in their dresses. We have 15 Konos students and we also involved some of their younger siblings to assist in serving and greeting our guests.  All told we had around 100 guests.  Each student had three main things that they created or performed - each brought an authentic Medieval dish for the feast, each presented a 6 week project and each represented a skill or job during the Middle Ages, including a banner and a coat of arms. They each also made "tokens" relating to either their booths or their projects and sold them at the faire for a penny each. Our greeters gave each guest 15 pennies and then the guests visited the faire. We had musicians, jugglers, artists, dressmakers, bakers, candlestick makers, kings and queens. There was lots to do and see. During the feast, each student presented their project and also their monologue.

Jess giving her "Eleanor of Aquitaine" monologue

 Her hair in a French Braid

Our Greeters - the sign on the right says "We take tips" HaHa!

"King Arthur"

The famous Medieval painter, "Giotto" and illuminated manucripts.

"Anna Comnena" - first woman historian and Medicinal Herbs

A "Noble woman" and Medieval Dancer

A "child from the Children's crusade" (costume) and our castle cake baker

 "Nicola De la Haye" and our Spice queen!

"Queen Isabella" and jewelry maker

Jessica's Booth - Medieval Fashions

Giotto's Artist Booth and The Medicinal Herb Booth

The Blacksmith and the Castle Builder's Booth

The Baker and the Candlestick Maker's Booths

The Bard and the Juggler's Booths

Arms and Armorers and the Spices Booths

Some scenes during the faire

Just a Quick Finished Page

I thought I would share a finished page - I really liked the way this turned out - the words really seemed to complete the page.

Before

 Middle

After

 I also added some shading, ala Pam Carriker and some extra stamping.

Present in the Mail - Thanks, Amisha!

I was so delighted to come home to a gift in the mail, sent to me by my dear blogging friend, Amisha, from Gorgeous and Fun Things. She sent me the wonderful book Journal Spilling: Mixed Media Techniques for Free Expression by Diana Trout. I am so excited. I have already thumbed through and it just looks like exactly my cup of tea! Thank you so much Amisha!! You are the best! I am truly blessed. I have looked through this book at Barnes and Noble, but didn't want to spend money on myself! It is full of so much good information, beautiful art and tutorials - all about art journaling!

The Front Cover

This is the artwork from a chapter called "The Inner Critic". I just love this artwork.

This is another page about doing an autobiography. 

I can't wait to start trying out some of this. I know what I will be reading tonight!